Adjustable sure-grip handle



@et 2l 1924.y l 1,512,747

C. R. CUSTIS ADJUSTABLE SURE GRIP HANDLE Filed June 30 1923 A l V l Patented @et 21, 1924.

narran stares CHARLES R. CUSTIS, OF HARRISON, NEW JERSEY.

ADJUSTABLE SURE-GRIP HANDLE.

Application lled June 30, 1923.

T all whom t 'may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. CUsTis, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harrison, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Sure-Grip Handles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and .exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

rfhis invention relates to a handle,

1t is aimed to provide a handle of general adaptation but particularly one which may be applied to brake valve operating mecha nism or the like so as to insure safe and more expeditious operation thereof.

Another object is to provide a construction of handle in which the parts are adjustable so as to accommodate attachment to dii'l'erent sizes and kinds of operating' means or the like, one in which a sure and tight grip connection is attained by turning of a part of the handle and one in which lost motion due to wear of the parts may be taken up and minimized.

Another object is to provide a construction in which the handle proper consists of three parts, two of which are adjustable througli movement of the third part.

Various additional objects and advantages will become apparent or be pointed out from a consideration of the description following` taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tool with the handle detached;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the tool but showing the handle in section;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the jaws of the tool;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the other jaw of the tool;

Figure 5 is a cross section on the line 5-5 of Figure 2 passing through the spring;

Figure 6 is a cross section on the line 6-6 of Figure 2 passing through the screw, and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of the tool.

Like reference characters designate like or similar parts in the different views.

In reducing the invention to practice, scparable sections A and B are provided which have jaws 10 at one end collectively forming Serial No. 648,828.

a socket adapted to engage an article to be operated and which is r-e..eived within a square or other recess 12 formed thereby. These jaws 10 are adapted for separation along a line 18.

Beyond the line 13, the sections are enlarged into the conical portion 14 beyond which a screw threaded shank 15 is provich ed. Section B at the conical portion is sepa rable from. the section A along the planes at a right angle to each other as represented by the lines a and Z7. Section A at the larger end of the portion 14 has a lug 16 which is adapted to interlock with means on the part engaged and operated by theI handle to hold the same in adjusted positions.

Adjacent its smaller end, the portion of jaw B at conical portion 14, is fastened to the section A by a Set screw 17 passing through the portionY 14. Section B about the set screw 17 is soinewhat loose as the opening through which the set screw passes is enlarged. Adjacent the larger end of the conical portion 14, an expansive helical spring 17 is housed within the section A and iii/engagement with section B so as to urge the latter away from section A. The tendency of spring 17 therefore is to urge the jaws 10 slightly away from each other.

A pressure sleeve 19 is provided which has a conical wall 2() adapted to engage the conical portion 14 in order to compress the sections A and B together and this sleeve includes interior screw threads at 21 which are engageable with those of the shank 15. The sleeve is thus held in place through the engagement of such screw threads. Surrounding the sleeve is a handle or grip 22,

fastened to the sleeve in any suitable man ner and being for instance straight and of wood but which may be of any other suitable shape or material.

In use, when the sleeve 19 is loose upon sections A and B, the spring 18 separates the sections slightly at the jaws 10 whereby they may receive the part to which the handle is to be connected. Thereupon, the handle is turned so as to move inwardly and thereby cause the wall 2() to move along the portion 14 and compress the sections A and B together by the coaction with the conical portion 14. In this manner, the part engaged or gripped may be very efficiently secured and a rigid connection of the handle made therewith. Should play develop be- Cil tween the handle and that portion or the parts become worn or loose, such play or looseness may be taken up by further tightening' the hand-le. AS the sleeve 19 ei;- tends over the screw 17, the latter cannot become accidentally detached. lt will be noted that the section A is made in a single piece, that the section B' is made in a single piece and that the sleeve 19 is made in a single piece. These sections and sleeves therefore may be readily cast or drop forged. Due to the adjustablev connection of the parts, the device may be secured not only rigidly tok operating mechanism but may be connected to such Amechanism or any part desired, and which may vary slightly in size.

Changes may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the invention and it is also to be vunderstood that the handle is adapted for use broadly and not limited to the use illustratedn v Y As an example of a modification, the torni of Figure Tis embodied herein. In that {igure, the difference resides merely in the position and relation of the jaws 10 with the remainder of the tool and also in the position rso' and'relation of the lug 16, and in this fignre, such jaws are designated 10a and the lug 16a., Otherwise the two forms are the same.

What is claimed is 1. A device of the class described having sections'providinggripping jaws, said sections collectively` having a substantially conicalf portion, one of the sections at said portion being substantially'V-shape in cross section and the other section being correspondingly grooved' to receive the saine, a screw threaded shank on one of the sections beyond said conical portion and the other section, and a sleeveA constituting a grip for the device screw threaded to said shank and having a substantially conical wall to engage the conical portion to compress the latter.

2. A device of theclass described having sections providing gripping jaws, said' sections collectively having a substantially conical portion, one of the sections at said portion being' substantially V-shaped in cross section and the other .section being corre-'iN spondingly grooved to receive it, means loosely connecting the sections together ad jacent said portion whereby one section may move radially with respect to the other section, a spring to urge separation orq the jaws, a screw threaded shank on one of the sections beyond said portion and the other section, and a sleeve constituting a grip for the device screw threaded to said' shank and having a substantially conical wall to engage the conical portionjand compress the latter against the tension of the spring.

In testimony whereoic l affix my si gnature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES R. CUSTS. litne'sses:

MINNIE E. CUsTrs. Mrs. S. C. SaNDFo'RD. 

